Chrome Will Highlight Connections That Are Not Encrypted
In January 2017 web browsing will become safer as Chrome will start highlighting more non-secure connections.
The latest version of Google’s browser, Chrome 56, will include a warning for HTTP sites that transmit passwords or credit card details, flagging these sites as non-secure. They hope that this step will keep users and their information safe when they are browsing sites that are not encrypted.
HTTP sites have not historically been marked as non-secure, but rather as neutral.
“This doesn’t reflect the true lack of security for HTTP connections. When you load a website over HTTP, someone else on the network can look at or modify the site before it gets to you,” says the Chrome Security Team. This leaves visitors wide open to potential attacks.
Now, to help counter such attacks, a small “not secure” window, located by the address bar, will caution visitors. In future, Chrome also plans to incorporate a special red triangle symbol as further warning.
More Than Half The Sites Indexed By Google Are Now HTTPS Sites
For the safety of those browsing the internet Chrome wants all sites to be HTTPS sites (the “S” stands for secure), and they are well on the way. They recently hit the halfway mark for the websites they index. This latest addition to Chrome will also be sure to increase the amount of HTTPS sites.
Those in the know are aware that they need to look for an HTTPS connection, before trusting a site with details such as credit card or identification numbers. HTTPS sites are protected by an SSL certificate (the start of the web address is often green with a little lock icon next to it in the search bar).
Because many users, however, do not necessarily see the lack of a secure icon as a warning, Google felt it necessary to take these steps.
Eventually All HTTP Sites Will Be Labelled Non-Secure
Chrome is starting with sites that have password and credit card fields because of the sensitive nature of this information. Their plan will, however, be rolled out gradually across the internet, based on “increasingly stringent criteria.” Eventually, they plan to label all HTTP sites as non-secure.
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